God Names from Myth and Legend

  1. Tane
    • Origin:

      Maori, Tahitian
    • Meaning:

      "man, male"
    • Description:

      In Maori mythology Tāne (also called Tāne Mahuta) was the god of forests and birds, son of the sky god Rangi and the earth goddess Papa. Tāne was the one who pushed his powerful parents apart to create the land and sky.
  2. Dionysius
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Meaning:

      "god of Nysa"
    • Description:

      Dionysius derives from Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, revelry and fertility. This Romanized spelling has been used for poets, soldiers, and saints throughout the centuries, but is hardly ever seen today.
  3. Loki
    • Origin:

      Norse mythological name
    • Meaning:

      "lock"
    • Description:

      Loki is the shape-shifting, gender-bending god of mischief in Norse mythology. Taking several animal forms, from a salmon to a seal to a fly, Loki is alternately friend and foe of the gods.
  4. Argo
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      The name of the ship sailed by Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece is now more often used for starch, trucks, and heavy machinery.
  5. Kiwa
    • Origin:

      Maori
    • Meaning:

      "Pacific ocean"
    • Description:

      Kiwa, one of the most popular Maori names for boys in New Zealand, is the name of several ocean guardians in Maori mythology. It's part of a poetic name for the Pacific ocean.
  6. Kirin
    • Origin:

      Chinese mythological name
    • Description:

      Kirin is a mythical Chinese figure that is a flying horse with elements of a dragon. The creature combines elements of the male -- Ki -- and the female -- Rin -- to make a gender neutral name that would work well in the Western World.
  7. Amphion
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      Son of Zeus known for musical abilities, an edgy choice for music-minded families.
  8. Bennu
    • Origin:

      Egyptian mythology
    • Meaning:

      "to rise in brilliance, to shine"
    • Description:

      Gentle sounding but with a bright and powerful meaning, Bennu is a name associated with both mythology and astronomy.
  9. Narfi
    • Origin:

      Norse Mythology
    • Description:

      The name of two figures in Norse mythology: one the father of Nótt, the personification of the night; the other a son of Loki and Sigyn, who is transformed into a wolf (or killed by one, depending on your source). The name may mean "narrow", or possibly "demon of the dead".
  10. Parthenios
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      Parthenios, the name of a Greek river god, is draped in a toga.
  11. Saturn
    • Origin:

      Roman mythology name
    • Description:

      If you've rejected all the names on earth, you might move on to the sixth planet from the sun, also the Roman god of agriculture and plenty, and the origin of Saturday.
  12. Hippolyte
    • Origin:

      French from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "releaser of horses"
    • Description:

      Hippolyte is the name of an Amazonian princess AND her son, both unfortunate mythical figures. The name Hippolyte, later borne by several saints, is a not an uncommon boys' name in France, but has barely set foot on American soil and is unlikely to do so. It was the middle name of famed French playwright Jean Giraudoux.
  13. Hesperos
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "evening, evening star"
    • Description:

      Hesperos or Hesperus is the personification of the evening star in Greek mythology; in Roman myth, that role is held by Venus. There's a Longfellow poem called "The Wreck of the Hesperus" about a tragic ship voyage.
  14. Shango
    • Origin:

      African, Yoruba, mythology name
    • Description:

      More substantial than it sounds: Shango was the god of thunder and legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
  15. Lir
    • Origin:

      Irish mythological name
    • Description:

      Lir is the Irish god of the sea, the equivalent of the Welsh Llyr which some equate with Shakespeare's King Lear. This is one of those rare names that is simple and has a deep history with an appealing meeting and yet is completely unused in the modern world -- no baby boys were recorded as receiving the name Lir in the US last year. Maybe because it sounds like the unappealing leer?
  16. Zeus
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously. The Roman equivalent Jupiter has also come down to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
  17. Lugh
    • Origin:

      Irish mythology name
    • Description:

      Lugh is the Irish god of the harvest, who also rules over truth, the law, and the arts. His magic includes a fiery spear and a boat that sails itself (dubbed the "wave sweeper") and his inventions include horse racing.
  18. Kalev
    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Estonian
    • Meaning:

      "dog, or ancestor of the Finns"
    • Description:

      Biblical Hebrew form of Caleb, which means "dog", or possibly "whole heart". Kalev is also the Estonian form of the Finnish name Kaleva, from an ancient demonym of unknown derivation.
  19. Audros
    • Origin:

      Lithuanian deity
    • Description:

      The god of storms in Lithuanian mythology. With (unrelated) Audrey at the top of the girl name charts, Audros feels like a handsome masculine successor.
  20. Kovas
    • Origin:

      Lithuanian deity
    • Description:

      God of war in Lithuanian mythology. According to legend, worshippers of Kovas would sacrifice black horses to him.

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